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Hard, Play Safe. What You Need to Know About ... Sports Eye Safety
Approximately
40,000 sports eye injuries occur every year, many resulting in permanent
vision loss.
From
major league stadiums to small-town courts, America's favorite pastimes
are great memories for many. But for some, especially children,
those memories are ruined by preventable eye injuries.
Injuries range from abrasions of the cornea to bruises of the eyelids
to internal eye injuries such as retinal detachments and internal
bleeding. Some of these lead to vision loss and permanent blindness.
Basketball
and baseball aren't the only sports that contribute to the thousands
of eye injuries every year. Football, hockey, soccer, tennis and
la crosse are also dangerous to the eyes. Make sure eyewear worn
is appropriate for the sport. Regular street glasses and contacts
do not offer enough protection for sports.
It's
up to parents to ensure their children wear eye protection when
they play sports.
- Many children's
sports leagues, schools and teams don't require children to wear
eye protection. Parents must insist that kids wear eye protection
every time they play, and set a good example by wearing eye protection
themselves whenever they play.
- People with
good vision in only one eye need to be especially careful to wear
eye protection during sports.
- There's
no evidence that wearing eye protection hampers athletic performance.
Many famous athletes, including NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
and NFL Hall of Fame star Eric Dickerson, have excelled in their
respective sports while wearing protective eyewear.
Today's
athletes can choose from various types of lightweight and sturdy
protective eyewear that look and fit better. The best part is that
eyewear properly fitted and worn does not hinder performance in
any way. Protective eyewear can prevent some 90% of sports eye injuries.
So
when participating in sports, be sure to:
- Select protective
eyewear that is appropriate for the sport
- Be sure
that the eyewear has polycarbonate lenses or shields
- Have eyewear
properly fitted by an eye care professional
Whatever
your game, whatever your age, you need to protect your eyes. See
your EyeMD today for appropriate protective eyewear.
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